U.S. Wind Power Projects with Battery Storage Gain Ground

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--As wind and solar power rapidly gain ground in the U.S., in many cases developers are seeking to help alleviate the intermittent nature of these forms of energy with battery energy storage systems (BESS), which can provide power at times when the wind isn't blowing or the sun isn't shining. While BESS units at solar facilities have become fairly commonplace in the U.S., BESS units installed at windfarms lag noticeably behind. However, battery projects at windfarms are gaining ground, accounting for more than $7 billion in active projects in the U.S.

One of the largest BESS-wind projects in the U.S. is planned for Colorado City, Texas, about 75 miles northeast of Midland. The project is planned to be built in phases, with each phase providing 500 megawatts (MW) of wind power and 200 MW of generation from BESS. At the moment, all three phases of the Spade wind and energy storage facility are set to begin construction next year, although construction could be staggered after beginning. Owner Zeus Renewable Development LLC (Fort Meyers, Florida) hopes to see generation from the first phase in 2026. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can click here for the related project reports.

Also in Texas, Intersect Power (Beaverton, Oregon) is gearing up for its own wind-BESS facility in Carson County, northeast of Amarillo. The windfarm will include approximately 134 turbines, each rated at 3 MW, to provide 400 MW of generation. For times when the wind isn't blowing, Intersect plans to establish 100 MW of battery storage at the facility. Construction could begin in mid-2026, putting the facility on track for completion by the end of 2027. Subscribers can click here for more details.

Larger players like AES Corporation (NYSE:AES) (Arlington, Virginia) also are getting in on the action. AES is in the late planning stage for its West Camp wind and BESS facility, set for a 52,500-acre site in Navajo County, Arizona. The windfarm will feature 104 turbines rated at 4.8 MW each to provide 500 MW of generation, while lithium-ion battery technology will provide 250 MW of energy storage. Construction could potentially begin in 2025, putting the facility on track for a 2027 completion.

The West Camp wind-BESS facility will help supply some of the power lost when the nearby Cholla coal-fired power station in Joseph City, jointly owned by Arizona Public Service Company (Phoenix, Arizona) and PacifiCorp (Portland, Oregon), is closed for good. Decommissioning and demolition of the plant are set to begin in 2026. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the project reports on the West Camp wind-BESS facility and the Cholla plant closure.

Other facilities will simultaneously accommodate wind, solar and battery power. Examples include BNB Renewable Energy Holdings LLC's (Austin, Texas) planned Green Lake facility near Port Lavaca, Texas, about 85 miles northeast of Corpus Christi. The windfarm will include 80 turbines to provide 400 MW, while more than 994,000 solar panels will add another 400 MW of nameplate generation. In times of low output from the wind and solar sections, a 200-MW BESS unit is planned for the plant. Construction on the facility is set to begin in early 2027. Subscribers can click here for more information.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Power Database can click here to view reports for all of the projects discussed in this article and click here for the related plant profiles.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).